Historical Fictionistas discussion
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What are you reading? 2024 Version
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Tammy
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Jan 15, 2024 02:54PM
Starting to read The Museum of Extraordinary Things
byAlice Hoffman I hope I will like it
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Currently reading Lady Tan's Circle of Women! Next up will be The Villa or Daughters of Smoke and Fire.I'm really hoping to get a copy of Weyward, The Unmaking of June Farrow and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue this year too. Seems like they're out of stock at most bookstores I'm looking at. Has anyone read those 3? I've read some good reviews and looking forward to getting immersed in them!
Abigail wrote: "Going to do a quick reread of the lovely Foster by Claire Keegan for my reading group, then embark on Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris."Foster is a beautiful book, though not my favourite by one of my favourite authors Claire Keegan. She has a way with words. :)
Finished Who's Sorry Now? #2 Lady Adelaide by Maggie Robinson. Historical mystery set in 1920's England. Rated 3 stars. Enjoyed more then #1. Good Audio narration by Gemma Dawson.
I think many readers of historical fiction will enjoy this novel set in the time of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. In the aftermath, four strong and independent women must come together to find justice for a terrible crime.
The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Changreview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I think most readers here know what it means to fall under The Spell of a Story. Author/illustrator Mariajo Ilustrajo has written a very cute book about a girl who says she hates books.
My review of The Spell of a Story with lots of illustrations
The Seven
by popular Aussie author Chris Hammer sees Ivan and Nell's homicide investigation uncover more deaths and disappearances in a town where wealthy landowners write their own rules. Great read and good as a standalone too.
My review of The Seven
I highly recommend None of This Is TrueThis book was wild and so unbelievably twisted. I did it as an audiobook and was so glad that I did because I think it added to the story. My Review —> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sarah wrote: "I highly recommend None of This Is TrueThis book was wild and so unbelievably twisted. I did it as an audiobook and was so glad that I did because I think it added to the story. My ..."I read the physical copy of this book and did not enjoy it at all. The author appeared to be condoning grooming and child abuse and blaming the victim for all her evil deeds. The groomer was a "good man" to hear her tell the story and then there was Alix who kept going back to her abusive husband and kept making excuses for him. I know the title is none of this is true but the author doesn't seem to be rejecting these behaviors.
Joan wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I highly recommend None of This Is TrueThis book was wild and so unbelievably twisted. I did it as an audiobook and was so glad that I did because I think it added to ..."I think if I read it as a regular book my feelings about it would’ve been different. I will admit that yes the ending was very bizarre, and disturbing. You honestly didn’t know what was true and what wasn’t true.
Irina Shapiro's The Highgate Cemetery Murder i s the first volume in a new historical mystery series set in Victorian London. The central characters are interesting, the plot somewhat twisted—and this first volume has left me looking forward to more.My **** review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished installment #5 in Crispin Guest medieval mystery/noir series set in 14th century London.Blood Lance
by Jeri WestersonI rated it 5 full stars, you can read my review here :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
A 2017 release, but luckily, Macmillan made the audio available on NetGalley. Loved this beautiful family drama so much!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Terror in Topaz by A.M. Stuart is another great episode in this historical mystery series set in Singapore and KL in 1910.review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Death Below Stairs #1 Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley. Rated 4 stars. Definitely want to continue this Victorian historical mystery series. Excellent audio narration by Anne-Marie Piazza.
Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky
Oshetsky's imagination and descriptive writing are on excellent display in this literary fiction.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See a week ago. Now I'm reading Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano.
What fun to see the new release of Don Freeman's 1961 children's picture book, Come Again, Pelican, where a free-ranging little boy goes fishing alone on the beach.
My review of Come Again, Pelican with several of the cheery illustrations
Life on a small Australian farm in the 1950s means contentment and freedom for Rex, but confinement and restriction for wife Irene, who seems to be the Snake in this novel by Aussie author Kate Jennings. No actual venomous creatures, so no trigger warning 😊necessary. Irene's a piece of work, though!
My review of Snake
Loved, loved, loved Ours. We're only in January, but this one will definitely wind up on my best of 2024 list. An examination of the concept of freedom with a large, fascinating cast, some conjure, and so, so, so many things to think about. Set before/during/after the Civil War. My ***** review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm glad I chose a dozen of Michael Connelly's Bosch series to read through 2024 because it means I'm assured of at least one good read a month. Nobody missed The Concrete Blonde, an obviously interchangeable porn performer, until her body is discovered, which could ruin Bosch's career.
My review of The Concrete Blonde
Just Finished FOUR - the son, the traitor, the transfer, the initiate by Veronica Roth. Hope to find new books soon :)
My library hosts an "Ultimate Book Nerd Challenge," where you have to read 50 books in 50 weeks from 60 categories. So far in January, I've read:*The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys (book with a building on the cover category)
*Heartland by Sarah Smarsh (book set on a farm or rural location category)
* The Bermondsey Bookshop by Mary Gibson (book set in Europe category)
*Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See (book set in Asia category)
And now I'm starting Yellowface by R.F. Kuang (for the Goodreads Choice Award winner category).
You Dreamed of Empires is a remarkable book—an imagined account of the meeting of Moctezuma and Hernám Cortés. Enrigue plays with history and with narrative in forms in ways that make the book surprising and satisfying.My ***** review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sarah-Hope wrote: "
You Dreamed of Empires is a remarkable book—an imagined account of the meeting of Moctezuma and Hernám Cortés. Enrigue plays with histo..."Sarah-Hope; This sounds like a fascinating read! Pleased that our library has it for both Kindle & Audio although hold list is about 2 months.
I read. The Underground Library. by Jennifer RyanIt is historical fiction, set in WWII London. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read All We Were Promised byAshton LattimoreI liked this historical fiction book set in 1837 Philadelphia, Pa. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thomas wrote: "I read. The Underground Library. by Jennifer RyanIt is historical fiction, set in WWII London. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...?..."
Excellent review Thomas, I have also enjoyed The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by the same author
I just finished Generation Ship by Michael Mammay. An excellent read. Well written. Characters well drawn. Excellent plot.Currently reading The Engines of God by Jack McDevitt. Just a few pages read so far. So far so good.
Maureen wrote: "Thomas wrote: "I read. The Underground Library. by Jennifer RyanIt is historical fiction, set in WWII London. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/s..."
Thanks Maureen. I have also enjoyed The Chilbury Ladies Choir.
I just finished Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani and I really enjoyed it. Ever since I read The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden I've been looking for books with large Italian or Italian-American families.
I read What Cannot Be Said by C.S. Harris It is a historical fiction mystery set in Regency England. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano a couple days ago. I really enjoyed it. Now I'm reading All the Broken Places by John Boyne. He is one of my most favorite authors.
I've been meaning to read this for such a long time and totally loved it!!
The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flaggreview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Historical mystery
The Dead of Winter by Nicola Upson is a golden age style locked in murder mystery on a snowed-in island.review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished
The African Queen. I remember the classic movie from long ago, but for some reason I never read the book. A solid three stars. Short book. All about the river journey, not the outcome.
Just finished an engaging mystery set in Vienna in late 18th century.The Figaro Murders
by Laura Lebow Here is my 5 stars review :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Switchboard Soldiers
by Jennifer Chiaverini. My favorite book of the year. Set in 1918, the women who were switchboard operators in the US sign up with military and go to France to handle the switchboards during WWI. Excellent research and characters are well written.
I just finished reading The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin. It was wonderful! this author is new to me and I am so glad I discovered her!
Finished The Bletchley Girls
by Anna Stuart. Rated 3 stars. WWII historical fiction. Just an OK read for me so doubt I'll read the sequel.
Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Finished The Bletchley Girls
by Anna Stuart. Rated 3 stars. WWII historical fiction. Just an OK read for me so doubt I'll r..."you might like The Rose Code better...I know I did.
Joan wrote: "Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Finished The Bletchley Girls
by Anna Stuart. Rated 3 stars. WWII historical fiction. Just an OK r..."Thanks, Joan! I loved The Rose Code.
If you have read and loved The Rose Code, try Signal Moon: A Short Story as well. It's set in the same universe and is a brilliant short story. I think it is available on Amazon Prime.
Just finished Divine Rivals and it had received so much hype that I think I was expecting more than what I got. It was good but not what I expected—> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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